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An inconspicuous mushroom with an uneven tubular edge from the huge Russula family, basement, belongs to conditionally edible species. Its Latin name is Russula subfoetens. In fact, this is a large-sized russula, which exudes a sharp, unpleasant odor during the ripening period.
Where the basement grows
The fungus is common in regions with a temperate climate: the European part of Our Country, Siberia, the Caucasus. Prefers moist deciduous forests located in the lowlands. Rarely found in coniferous forests, in thickets of moss. Such mushrooms differ from their counterparts grown among oaks and aspens in their small size and pale color.
The peak of fruiting occurs at the beginning of summer, the process lasts until the onset of cold weather. The basement grows in large groups.
What does the basement look like?
The hat is large, up to 15 cm in diameter. Its shape in young mushrooms is spherical, later it becomes prostrate, with a ribbed and uneven edge. This feature is formed as the basement matures. In young specimens, the edge is bent down and absolutely even. A recess is formed in the center of the cap.
The color can be light yellow, ocher, cream, dark brown – the older the cellar, the more intense the pigment. The surface is smooth, with high humidity it becomes oily, slippery.
The cylindrical thick and dense stem reaches 10 cm in length, its circumference is approximately 2 cm. The color of the leg is white, yellow spots appear in overripe mushrooms, the inside becomes hollow. When potassium hydroxide is applied, the skin of the leg turns bright yellow.
The plates are thin, frequent, adherent to the stem. In young mushrooms they are white, in overripe ones they are creamy, with brown spots.
The pulp of a young cellar is white, tasteless. As it matures, it begins to exude an unpleasant odor and becomes spicy. It is quite difficult to bring the basement from the forest to the house, as it is very fragile.
Spores are ellipsoid, warty, cream-colored. Spore powder is pale yellow.
Is it possible to eat cellar mushroom
The species is classified as conditionally edible species. The fruiting body does not contain dangerous toxins, but the peppery taste and the smell of rancid oil do not allow this russula to be eaten.
The taste of the mushroom
Only old basements with open hats have an unpleasant aftertaste. Young specimens with a convex rounded hat are eaten after 3 days of soaking. In this case, the water is regularly, 1 time per day, drained.
Before cooking, the skin is removed from the mushroom cap. The leg is often not eaten, since in most cellars it is eaten away by worms.
Podvaluy is used for making pickles with spicy marinades and lots of spices.
Benefits and harm to the body
Like all russulas, the basement is a low-calorie, protein-rich plant product. At the same time, its pulp is rich in dietary fiber, which helps to cleanse the body.
Mushrooms, and especially russula, are a difficult to digest product that is not recommended for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Pregnant women and children under 7 years of age should not eat these mushrooms. Without preliminary heat treatment, basement fruiting bodies are not consumed.
False doubles
Almost the twin brother of the basement is the Valuy mushroom, the Latin name is Russula foetens. Its flesh is more dense and fleshy, the color is red. The taste of the twin is sharper, it has a strong unpleasant odor. In form and appearance, these varieties of russula are practically indistinguishable. Valuy is also classified as a conditionally edible species.
Gebelo makleykaya, false valuuy, horseradish mushroom – all these are the names of the most dangerous twin of the basement. The Latin name of the species is Hebelo macrustuliniforme. The appearance of both basidiomycetes is almost identical. A striking distinguishing feature of a double is a strongly pronounced smell of horseradish when breaking the pulp. Unlike the basement, the horseradish mushroom is never wormy.
Russula almond, laurel cherry (Russula grata), exudes a sweet smell of almonds. Its fruiting body is somewhat smaller than that of the basement. The hat is rounded, domed, the leg is cream, longer and thinner than that of the basement. The twin is classified as an absolutely edible species.
Russula related – a fellow cellar, very similar to him. The Latin name is Rússula consobrina. The russula cap is smoother and rounded, gray in color. The smell of the double is unpleasant, sharp, similar to the amber of rotten cheese, the taste is oily. It belongs to conditionally edible species due to the specific taste of the pulp.
Collection rules
It is correct to collect forest gifts in wet, rainy weather. You can find a basement in the thickets of moss, under the trees. At the beginning of June, it is already possible to go out on a quiet hunt – the peak of fruiting in the basement falls on this time.
Only young mushrooms with a rounded cap are placed in the basket, the edges of which are attached to the stem. Its surface must be even and smooth.
Old specimens with an open hat should not be collected – it is almost impossible to remove bitterness and an unpleasant odor.
Use
The fresh basement is washed, adhering leaves and dirt are removed. The legs are cut off, they almost always contain worms. Remove the skin from the cap – it can be bitter. Then the basement is poured with cold water and left for 3 days. Every 12 hours, the liquid is drained, as it forms a foul-smelling mucus. Then fresh cold water is poured into the pan with mushrooms.
Only after 3 days of soaking, the basement is subjected to heat treatment – boiled in salted water 2 times for half an hour. Then the hats can be stewed or fried. But experienced mushroom pickers say that the caps of young mushrooms pickled or marinated with garlic and vinegar are especially tasty.
Conclusion
Podvaluy is a conditionally edible variety of russula. It does not harm human health, but not everyone will appreciate its taste. The pulp of overripe basidiomycetes is bitter and has an unpleasant odor. Only young fruiting bodies with a rounded cap are eaten. After a long soaking, the basement is marinated. According to taste, it belongs to category 3.